Can A Dental Assistant Afford Rent in Albert Lea, MN?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 22.8% of gross income.

Albert Lea rent: April 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Albert Lea median rent
$960/mo
Dental Assistant salary (Minnesota)
$50,502/yr
Rent as % of income
22.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,209, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,263/mo in rent. Albert Lea's median rent of $960 leaves roughly $303/mo of headroom under that threshold. A dental assistant works roughly 39.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a dental assistant salary

Dental assistant pay sits near the US median household income. At the national-average dental-assistant salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,214 a month in rent, which is achievable in most lower- and mid-cost metros.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Albert Lea, which improves the affordability math on a dental assistant salary:

Austin, MN
$947/mo (22.5% of income)
Saint Cloud, MN
$905/mo (21.5% of income)
Saint Cloud, MN
$872/mo (20.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Albert Lea

View full rent data for Albert Lea, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a dental assistant afford rent in Albert Lea, MN?

Median rent in Albert Lea is $960 a month. A typical dental assistant in Minnesota earns about $50,502 a year, which makes that rent 22.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a dental assistant afford in Albert Lea?

Using the 30% rule, a dental assistant salary in Minnesota (~$50,502/yr) supports up to $1,263 a month in rent. Albert Lea's current median rent is $960/mo, which leaves a $303/mo buffer.

How many hours does a dental assistant work to cover rent in Albert Lea?

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a dental assistant in Minnesota works roughly 39.5 hours a month to cover Albert Lea's median rent of $960.

Where is rent cheaper than Albert Lea for a dental assistant?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Austin ($947/mo), Saint Cloud ($905/mo), Saint Cloud ($872/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a dental assistant salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Minnesota state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Albert Lea, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.